Login

Muerto · 12-17-2020, 01:26 PM

KFAN RADIO PRESENTS

WHO ARE THE BUYERS AND SELLERS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE??

3900 words

Hello friends and fans of the SHL! With many teams at the 40-game mark already, it is likely that the trade deadline could happen as early as this weekend. Trades are always exciting when they happen, and TDL can be an interesting time, as teams have to decide are they buyers or sellers?

Is there a team or two which might want to throw in the towel and recoup what they can for their expendable assets? Or perhaps there are teams which feel just a slight improvement here or there could be the difference between contending and pretending?

For this article, I went through each team and thought about what I would be inclined to do if I was their GM. I did not look at the trade blocks of any teams, and what I write here is by no means what other GMs would do, or are even thinking of doing, so there are no spoilers or leaks here.

For each team, I consider their current standings and roster outlook, and gauge what areas they might want to improve. I also looked at the current roster and deemed which players I would consider absolutely untouchable. I considered all their prospects and gave a nod to those I feel have good promise to be notable SHL players. Those prospects with a * in their name are S55 prospects, and so must be called up or risk being lost to waivers next season. It might be noted that no players who were waived this season were claimed, but of course that could change next season. I also had a look at which draft picks the teams own for the upcoming S58 SHL Draft, but only for the first 3 rounds - interestingly, only 5 teams retain all 3 of their own picks. Some teams might have picks to spare, or others might be looking to add more. The players assigned as OTB? are those I would consider to be tradeable for the right price - not that they would actively be shopped. Also, again just reiterating that these aren't leaks from any teams or trade block access, and could be entirely wrong, so don't get mad at anyone but me if I put your name there ok!

Finally, I designate each team as either Buyer, Seller, or Stand Pat based on all these measures.

Without further ado:

Inferno

ATLANTA INFERNO Inferno

Outlook: With a sub-.500 record, Atlanta is not tearing up the league like they did last season. They seem assured to default into a playoff spot this season, but with 4 players S40 or older, and only a couple top-earning youngsters, it's not unreasonable to think they may try to send 1 or 2 of the older players to a contender in exchange for youth.
The Inferno do have all their picks, plus an extra 1st from LAP, it would probably be wise to hold onto those picks and stock up the prospect cupboards. They do have 2 active goalies which is nice, and both are still relatively young, but if a top TPE goalie was available, I could see them trying to make a play.
Areas to Improve: Aging Roster, Lack of Defensive Prospects. Top-tier Starting Goalie.
Untouchables: Simon Leblanc, Elijah Jones, Eko Van Otter, Guy Zheng, Patric Twist, Carlos Brown
Promising Prospects: C Stan Q. Next*. D Michael Withecheck. C Josh Dolphin. C Pablo Salvatici.
S58 Picks: ATL 1st. LAP 1st. ATL 2nd. ATL 3rd.
Players OTB?: Brady McIntyre, DeMaricus Smyth, Anders Christiansen, Manuel Gotze, Rex Kirkby, Nathan Explosion

Verdict: Sellers

Platoon

BALTIMORE PLATOON Platoon

Outlook: Baltimore is in a youth movement right now, which is reflected by their record. However, with half the roster being S53 or younger, and a healthy crop of prospects on their way, it doesn't make much sense to try to bring in top players right now.
If anything, selling off their few remaining aging players to try and get a couple more picks or active youngsters could make sense.
Areas to Improve: Active backup goalie. Replace inactives with actives.
Untouchables: Luca Del Vecchio, Valentin Kalashnikov, Ethan Duncan, Lord Raiden, Daniil Nikiforov
Promising Prospects: D Teddy Park*. RW Young Logo*. LW Lucas Johansson. D Vili Afalava. D Tanjiro Kamado. D Zebulon Leavitt. C Rob Wright. C Victor Fedorov.
Picks: BAP 1st. MAN 2nd. LAP 3rd.
Players OTB?: GOD McZehrl, Troy McClure III, Brock Nuck, Nat Emerson, Karl Krashwagen

Verdict: Sellers

BUFFALO STAMPEDE

Outlook: The Stampede continue to roll, putting up good numbers this season. Their regressing players are all still very good while their younger players are also fantastic, setting them up well for the future. About the only area of concern I can see is where to make room for prospects coming up, and what to do with all their draft picks.
Could we see them try to package some picks together to try to bring in a top player to make another run for the Cup? Or will they stand pat and look to make some Draft Day moves instead? I'm going to wager that they are the one team to go after somebody big.
Areas to Improve: Backup Goalie.
Untouchables: Mostly everyone.
Promising Prospects: D Johnny Shuffleboard*. G Chimkin Tendy. C Anton Mihailov.
Picks: BUF 1st. NOLA 1st. BUF 2nd. BUF 3rd. WPG 3rd. TEX 3rd.
Players OTB?: Rintarou Okabe

Verdict: Buyers

Dragons

CALGARY DRAGONS Dragons

Outlook: The Dragons are having an outstanding season so far, with strong scoring and great goaltending helping them along as they fight EDM for top spot in their division. I can't see them messing with a winning formula, but perhaps they might look to exchange a regressing 3rd pairing defender for someone younger, but it's not a huge need as they have a couple of solid dmen in an otherwise marginal prospect pool. With 3 picks in the first 2 rounds, they do have some assets to try and make a splash.
Areas to Improve: 3rd pairing D, Thin Prospect Pool.
Untouchables: Mikael Choybuk, Maxime Bouchard, Barry Batsbak, Brennan Kennedy Jr, Esa Parmborg, Boris Poroshenko, Joseph Weston, Cale Amundsen, Mats Marner, Mack Daddy
Promising Prospects: D Chris Goodname*. D Sachimo Zoidberg III. RW Thomas Rose. C Luukas Lilja.
Picks: CGY 1st. CGY 2nd. NOLA 2nd.
Players OTB?: Bernik Vrzala, Oliver Klozoff

Verdict: Buyers

CHICAGO SYNDICATE

Outlook: The Syndicate are in a good spot right now, and should be considered amongst the favorites to compete for the Cup this season. The roster is a little on the older side but when your regressing players are almost all 1600+ TPE, they can keep going for a while yet.
There's a noticeable lack of S53 and younger players on the roster, but I don't know where they would fit even if they had them. They are in their window right now, there's no need to sell off and don't really have the picks or prospects available to go after any big names at the TDL. They would probably be better off to keep their picks and look to bring in a couple more prospects in the Draft to replace their aging players in a few seasons.
Areas to Improve: Lack of defensive prospects
Untouchables: Almost everyone.
Promising Prospects: C Lassi Suhonen*. LW Vítek Víteček*. G Mat Smith.
Picks: CHI 1st. TBB 2nd.
Players OTB?: Lassi Suhonen, Damien Vertigo, Kit Smeb

Verdict: Stand Pat

EDMONTON BLIZZARD

Outlook: A roster basically in its prime, the Blizzard are neck and neck with CGY for 1st in the West. The roster is a little older, but even with a couple players in regression, they will still be solid for a few seasons to come. Which is good, because they don't have a lot of prospects ready to fill in those spots, and only have 1 pick this draft. They are pretty much all-in this season as their best players are at their peak right now and they don't really have the extra assets to make a big play.
Areas to Improve: Thin Prospect Pool, Lack of Draft Picks
Untouchables: Most everyone
Promising Prospects: G Peter Ramsey*. C Rikki Petrov. D Rude Sniff.
Picks: EDM 2nd.
Players OTB?: I dunno

Verdict: Stand Pat

HAMILTON STEELHAWKS

Outlook: The best team in the league doesn't need to make any changes. There's nowhere on the roster where you can look and go, 'Oh they need to upgrade here'. OK, one thing, they don't have an active backup or a goalie in the prospect pool.
They also have a very good 1st round pick in their pockets which will be a valuable asset in the offseason, whether they choose to use it or trade it.
Areas to Improve: Backup Goalie. Thin prospect pool.
Untouchables: Everyone
Promising Prospects: RW Devin Basher*. LD Evangelos Giannopoulos. RW Tokkulu Lakkamaa. LD Wen Baters.
Picks: MIN 1st. HAM 3rd. BAP 3rd.
Players OTB?: I dunno

Verdict: Stand Pat

LOS ANGELES PANTHERS

Outlook: The roster is getting a bit older, and the top prospects are still a couple of seasons away from cracking the roster, but yet LAP is having a good season, led by their top players. They are a little weaker with their 3rd line, but they are not major liabilities to the team so far.
The biggest area of concern is for the future, as they will be needing to replace some aging out/retiring defenders and without any picks this draft they just lack the assets to really try and make a run. They will make the playoffs regardless, so more likely they might be willing to ship out a few of their aging assets to try and get some more youth in the lineup.
Areas to Improve: 3rd line scoring, Lack of Draft Picks
Untouchables: Jimmy Slothface, Michael Fox, Knox Booth, Vorian Atreides. Keith Lee, Jimmy Wagner, Elias Kierkegaard
Promising Prospects: D Jonas Kahnwald. RW John Donair. LW Grape Fruit. D Jari Heikkinen. D Sean Gatez.
Picks: None
Players OTB?: Jon Toner, Phillip Winter, Poopity Scoop, Petr Mikulak, Filip Zadina

Verdict: Sellers

Rage

MANHATTAN RAGE Rage

Outlook: The window is still open for the Rage as they have a lot of good players, but they are starting to age and they don't have much for prospects, and only have 2 picks this draft. It certainly doesn't make sense to give up what they do have just to try and make a run in the playoffs. With first place in their division almost a certainty, perhaps they will be willing to move one or more of their higher end players to get some more active youth on the team now.
Areas to Improve: Prospects
Untouchables: Jax Aittokallio, Luke Thomason, Barret McCarthy, Andrej Doskočil, David Vent, Austin Roenick, Oliver Cleary, Phineas Gold, Jukka Timonen, Name Redacted, Guy LeGrande
Promising Prospects: D Jed Mosley Jr*. D Matty Sandeen.
Picks: MAN 1st. MAN 3rd.
Players OTB?: Luca Veccelli, Ola Wagstrom, David Kastrba, Piotr Czerkawski, Reginald MacIntyre

Verdict: Sellers

MINNESOTA MONARCHS

Outlook: The Monarchs are having a tough season, sitting near the bottom of the standings, and not a lot to point to for the optimists among us. Let's try, anyway - Mayfield is having a good season and there are some younger players developing nicely - but maybe not enough to fill out the holes in their roster. If ever there was a seller, MIN is it as they do have some appealing older players that could bring in a decent return. With no 1st round pick this Draft, it would make sense for them to try and get something for the solid vets on the roster.
Areas to Improve: Depth
Untouchables: Collin Gibbles. Markus Tegernako, Cal Labovitch, Rocco Berni, Jack Klompus, Alex Marshall
Promising Prospects: RW A.P. Flitterwind*. C Rock Strongo. RW Kynwyl Pearce. D Arsene Leclerc.
Picks: MIN 2nd. MIN 3rd. NEW 3rd.
Players OTB?: Mika Mayfield, Matthias Seger, Noah Gallagher, Noah Tedla

Verdict: Sellers

NEW ENGLAND WOLFPACK

Outlook: A young team with many promising players S53 and younger, although they have a few inactive or low earning players in the mix. They have the prospects in the pipeline to start replacing them so it's not a pressing concern at this juncture. What they do have is a few regressing players who aren't likely to still be around when they are in a more contending mode, so perhaps they could look to exchange them to a contender for something younger.
Areas to Improve: Replace Inactives with Actives.
Untouchables: Jakub Bruchevski, Mitchell van der Heijden, Sven Yxskaft, Frans Eller, Guðmundur Kristjánsson, Leonids Balzams
Promising Prospects: LW Ryan Rieley*. RW Alexander Oscarsson*. D Teylora Petrov. RW Alexis Vermette. C Calvin Hobbes. C Jonathan Granström. LW Bás O'Bigbers. RW Brennan Huff.
Picks: HAM 1st.
Players OTB?: Dominic Montgomery, Perry Morgan, Slap McShotty

Verdict: Sellers

NEW ORLEANS SPECTERS

Outlook: The Specters had a great run for a while, but they are falling off hard this season. They are struggling to score and not having a lot of luck keeping the puck out of their own net. The roster is aging and they have at least 2 retiring players they will need to replace next season. I can see them being quite active at TDL to try and get some returns on their older players - although they have some good prospects, most of them are not going to be ready to make the jump as soon as next season.
Areas to Improve: Lack of youth on the roster
Untouchables: Lyle Odelein III, Darnell Johnson, Conner Hutton
Promising Prospects: C Xavier Doom. G Jon St. Ark. D Farley Hank. D Robert Feltersnatch. LW Vlastislav Malik. C Cian McFelter.
Picks: EDM 1st. LAP 2nd. CGY 3rd.
Players OTB?: Geoff Moore, Lil' Manius, Aleister Cain, Nicholas Williams, Steven Moyer, Olivier Cloutier, Atlas Rush

Verdict: Sellers

pride

SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE pride

Outlook: Everyone's happy that they beat their casino over, but let's not get too excited as they are still on pace to finish last or second-last in the league. However, I think the team can be encouraged that they've done a decent job with drafting and have a number of solid prospects who will be looking to make the jump as soon as next season, and more who are just a season or two away. They don't have many really good players available, but they do have a handful of picks for the Draft which maybe they could use to shore up the roster a bit as they look to get back into the conversation.
Areas to Improve: Depth
Untouchables: Henrik Lekberg Osterman, Alex Petrenko, Sven Svensson
Promising Prospects: D Rikard Bjerg*. C Walton Stromberg*. G Nicolae Antonescu*. D Nathan Thomas*. LW Yngve Simonsson. LW Patrik Money. D Ruggs McOoooh. LW Jarmo Kekäläinen. RW Mikael Koskinen.
Picks: SFP 1st. SFP 2nd. HAM 2nd. NEW 2nd. TEX 2nd. CHI 2nd. SFP 3rd.
Players OTB?: Geezus Kryyst, Jeff Brogen

Verdict: Sellers

SEATTLE ARGONAUTS

Outlook: The Argonauts are kicking along, winning a few games here and there, but seem destined to finish out of the playoffs. They have all their picks for this draft, and some decent prospects, but as an expansion team, those prospects are probably still another season away from making the roster. The bulk of their roster is still a few seasons from worrying about regression, but they have a couple of older players who might fetch a decent return.
Areas to Improve: Scoring, Goaltending, Younger Roster players
Untouchables: Thomas Vanice, Abel Skinner, Jack Kanoff, Thor Odinson
Promising Prospects: C Dee Centerman IV. RW Vaseline Podcalzone. RW Zdenko Beranek. RW William Salming. D R.E. Shimizu-Okoli. G Yanno Rosejac.
Picks: SEA 1st. SEA 2nd. SEA 3rd.
Players OTB?: Hiro Fujikawa, Cassius Darrow, Knute Knurtsson, Anastasia O'Koivu, Bo Kane, Nolan McMahon

Verdict: Sellers

TAMPA BAY BARRACUDA

Outlook: A very young team with some really fantastic prospects in the pipeline. Their best players are all S50 or younger so they seem set up for the future, with another 6 players needing to make the roster next season or be sent to waivers. With 4 picks in this pending draft, the Waterdogs have a lot of pieces they could exchange for players now, and try to overtake NEW for a playoff spot, which would be a big deal for a team not that far removed from being awful. Primary among their needs would be to get an actual goalie if they want to make this happen.
Areas to Improve: Goaltending. Defense.
Untouchables: Tom Fiddler, James Ronlain, Michael Fitted, Ambacas Cuddles, Zoltan Topalo, Dwight Knight, Panda Panico, Justin Keahi, Matthew Forrester
Promising Prospects: D Colin Lambert*. D Adrik Baranov*. RW Pavel Kharlamov*. D Jöörgüštrâäd DuBølk*. D Igor Victory*. LW TURG TURG*. RW KnockedtOut ByOvechkin. C Aleksander Kozlov. RW Vladmir Petrov. LW Valtterri Kauppinen. G Phillip Weaver.
Picks: TBB 1st. NEW 1st. BAP 2nd. TBB 3rd.
Players OTB?: Not sure, but they might just be in the enviable spot of having too many players and not enough roster spots or cap space for them all. Could see them packaging a bunch of picks and prospects for a decent haul of ready-to-play-now players

Verdict: Buyers

TEXAS RENEGADES

Outlook: TEX is the one team in the SW that doesn't have a whole lot to worry about, so far they are cruising along and leading their division handily. They are getting contributions from all lines and have no areas of concern. With only 3 players regressing next season, they should be fine for seasons to come.
Areas to Improve: Nothing really
Untouchables: Everyone
Promising Prospects: LW Theo Kondos*. LW Slava Petrov. LW Lemo Pihl.
Picks: TEX 1st. EDM 3rd.
Players OTB?: Nobody

Verdict: Stand Pat

Stars

TORONTO NORTH STARS Stars

Outlook: As expected, the Stars are playing inspired hockey, yet are still 13 points out of a playoff spot. As Jean-Luc Picard once said, 'You can do everything right and still lose. That's life.' Toronto did everything they could to try and compete in their division, but are just a couple pieces short. At this point, I'm not sure giving up any more assets to try and get a top scorer is the right move, especially with basically no defensemen in their prospect pool, but they have 3 forwards who need to come up next season and only 2 spots on the roster, so maybe they look to make a move to shore that up, but more likely they use the offseason to tweak what they can.
Areas to Improve: More scoring from 2nd/3rd lines. Lack of Defense prospects.
Untouchables: Most of the roster.
Promising Prospects: RW Liam Slate*. LW Ryu Jones*. RW Juni Panda*.
Picks: TOR 1st. TOR 3rd.
Players OTB?: Anthony Archer

Verdict: Stand Pat

Jets

WINNIPEG JETS Jets

Outlook: The Jets are the definition of an average team, as far ahead of the teams behind them as they are behind the top teams in their division. The top players are leading the way, the younger players are having some growing pains but are steadily improving - all in all, things are going about as expected. While they have improved over last season, there's not really anything they can do to make themselves contenders, but there's also no need to break it all down. They do have a lot of regressing players but only a couple will need to be replaced next season, and they have prospects ready to step in. If the right deal came along perhaps they would try to shore up their defense or the third line.
Areas to Improve: 3rd line, depth scoring
Untouchables: Goku Muerto, Slip McScruff, Nick Brain, Commander Shepard, Calogeri Crudelli, Strom Chamberlain, Reid Sutherland, Magnus Liljeström, Pojo Biscuit, Zakkira Diporov
Promising Prospects: RW James Kimanje*. LW Zelma Zuntnere*. D Sarah Burke. C Jst Maro. D Jasper Maximov. LW Dwayne Gretzky. G Vincent Mietitore.
Picks: WPG 1st. WPG 2nd. CHI 3rd.
Players OTB?: Bale

Verdict: Buyers

------------------------

Summary:

This is a lot of writing to basically conclude that there probably won't be much movement at the Trade Deadline. More teams seem to be in a position to sell than there are teams looking to add anyone. The teams that would be considered contenders - BUF, CHI, HAM, EDM, CGY, TEX - could just as easily stand pat and not give anything up than try to marginally improve their chances.
One area I didn't really look at was pending UFAs, so maybe teams that are uncertain of their ability to extend a player will avoid the risk of losing them for nothing in FA, and try to get something back. Perhaps we'll get to see a blockbuster trade as somebody decides to roll the dice, but I am just not sure this season has the right circumstances for that to happen. We shall be watching closely!

Good luck and have fun!